Life will be a Lille easier for Liverpool after Monday's morale-boosting win over Portsmouth, claims Pepe Reina

Liverpoolgoalkeeper Jose Reina believes the squad have to use Monday's morale-boosting 4-1 win over Portsmouth to get them through Thursday's tricky Europa League last-16 second leg tie against Lille.

The French side arrive at Anfield with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Eden Hazard's late free-kick a week ago and showed enough in that game to suggest they will be no pushovers.

Liverpool's poor season - they have suffered early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup and have long been out of the title race - means this is the only trophy they can win.

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Reina believes that, allied to the recent confidence boost of their biggest win since September on Monday, will spur the players on.

'We are 1-0 down and we have to lift it up,' said the Spain international, who revealed he is just a few weeks away from signing a new long-term contract.

'We have to take those good games we have played as an example and Monday was one of them.

'I hope we can keep a clean sheet and turn things around. I hope I will have nothing to do but I don't think it will be the case.

'They are a well-organised team with pace up front and we know it is going to be tough but there have been many times that have been tough and we have managed.'

The French side will be a difficult prospect, even at Anfield, but Reina insists the players are determined to turn things around as they are desperate to win some silverware to make up for a disappointing campaign.

'It is the only trophy we can lift this season so it is massively important,' he added. 'A trophy is a trophy and it is always good.

Hazard-ous: Lille star Eden Hazard (out of shot) hands the French side the lead in the Europa League clash with Liverpool

'We are the first ones to know the season has not been good and we should have been better. But as long as we have got a possibility of winning a trophy it is important for the club and the players.

'Lille will play defensively with some pace and ability up front playing counter-attack and we have to be aware of that and manage that.'

Lille coach Rudi Garcia insists his side will not be over-awed by the 'mythical' Anfield atmosphere. Garcia is confident his players will cope with a big European night on Merseyside, as they did in the previous round when they travelled to Fenerbahce for the second leg.